In Niger, Soldiers Annouce Coup And Remove President on Live TV

Category : International Published on: July 29 2023

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In Niger, the Presidential Palace was blockaded, as soldiers took President Mohammed Bazoum into custody in Niamey, the capital.
The military takeover, which marks the seventh coup in the West and Central Africa region since 2020, could further complicate Western efforts to help countries in the Sahel region fight a jihadist insurgency that has spread from Mali over the past decade.
Niger is also a key ally of the European Union in the fight against irregular migration from sub-Saharan Africa.
Niger lies at the heart of Africa’s Sahel region, which has seen numerous power grabs in recent years including in Mali and Burkina Faso.
When Bazoum took presidential office in 2021, it was the country’s first democratic transfer of power following years of military coups. Niger first gained independence from France in 1960.